Light Novels and Web Novels with Badass Main Character (MC)

Light novels have been increasing in popularity lately. Most online readers continue to search certain light novels that fits their taste. Some of those readers particularly like the type of novel with a protagonist who's badass, quite overpowered, and will develop into a mighty character. Fortunately, the web provide countless of recommendations for those types.

Luckily, I have made a list of light novels and a few web novels, translated from Korean, Japanese, and Chinese, and written in original English, that is highly recommended to be read for those who are searching for a strong, overpowered, and somewhat badass MC.

This is third list I’ve made and if you haven’t read the other two, I certainly would recommend you do so.

Anyways, I hope you have a good time reading my recommendations.

1. Legend

Living in the Tohoku countryside, Saeki Reiji lost his life in an accident during summer vacation……However, he found himself in a white world with a strange glowing orb in front of his eyes. The orb claimed to be a magician of a different world, and he was looking for a person who would inherit the magic he had perfected in order to prevent the knowledge from disappearing. With that, Reiji, equipped with a new body and powerful magic, went to live in the world of Elgin

Source: Silent TL

Why Read:

The plot is really good as mostly it involves the MC trying to aim the highest possible rank (S rank) in the adventurer’s guild. The MC himself is overpowered with a Death Scythe as a weapon, a heavenly enchanted and upgraded armor, and a Griffon as a tamed monster (the MC was nicknamed ‘Reaper of the Sky). Much more, the MC doesn’t even realize he is seriously OP.

2. Chaotic Sword God

Jian Chen, the publicly recognized number one expert of the Jianghu. His skill with the sword went beyond perfection and was undefeatable in battle, After a battle with the exceptional expert Dugu Qiubai who had gone missing over a hundred years ago, Jian Chen succumbed to his injuries and died.

After death, Jian Chen’s spirit was transmigrated into a completely foreign world. Following an extremely fast growth, his enemies piled up one after another before becoming gravely injured once more. On the gates of death, his spirit had mutated, and from that moment henceforth, he would tread on a completely different path of the art of the sword to become the sword god of his generation.

This is one of my favorite light novels since the author really laid out an exciting and adventurous plot. The main story starts with the reincarnation of the MC (which is pretty common on over-powered MC light novels) and hereafter, starts his training which made him very powerful (also typical).

But what made this light novel different from others is that the idea of revenge is deeply inflicted within. MC kills his enemies (which is sometimes due to an old grudge), which also includes an entire country, and after killing them, as the story later progress, finds more enemies to kill. The plot, though, is quite repetitive. There’s never really a lack of fighting and action scenes. It’s really good and I recommend you to read it.

3. I Am The Monarch

Roan who ran away 20 years ago from the rural village in the aim of becoming a Great General who will rule the world.However, all he got 20 years later was just a handful of money and a low position that is a 1st legion’s spearman.At the end, he becomes a cold corpse in the battlefield.But somehow, he came back in the past.

“Alright. This time, I won’t become a Great General but a Monarch.”

His previous life’s aim was becoming a Great General.Actually, he only became a spearman.This time, his life’s aim is becoming the Monarch.

“Then I guess I’d become at least a general, right?”

Roan who remembers what happened the 20 years.Now starts his unstoppable march in becoming a Monarch.

Source: KobatoChanDaisuki

Why Read:

The plot is on the right track (which means no winding up to another) which mainly focuses on the MC being the Monarch (somewhat like a king or a ruler of a country). What makes the reincarnated MC very over-powered is his reliable memory on what happened on his previous life. The story might start a bit boring and uncomfortable, but as the story progress, it really is very enticing (so much that you'll keep reading for more).

Much more, there’s a hint on kingdom-building as a theme since the MC dreams of becoming a monarch, an equivalent to a king, starts to recruit talented people into his army (which is also considered to be the strongest) and establishes a trading company (though it really is an information company or spies) and guilds for Alchemy, Blacksmith, etc. You really need to read this!

4. Long Live Summons!

The Soaring Dragon Continent is a world of summons, you can only become strong if you become a summoner! Yue Yang, an average high school boy, was suddenly transported into this world. When he woke up, he was greeted with a lot of worried faces and found out that he had assumed another person’s identity. Turns out he’s the good-for-nothing third son of the Yue Family, who had just recently drowned himself because of a failed engagement.

Unlike the third son of the Yue Family who was useless in summoning, Yue Yang succeeded in making a contract with a summoning grimoire on his first try, even when the other guy failed for the past fifteen years. Others would have a headache making contracts with beasts afterwards, but countless beasts tried to gain favour with Yue Yang instead, acting like good kids before him.

Yue Yang the brat, however, didn’t feel grateful at all: “Scram, Divine Beasts! Do you think you are cool like that? Go away from me now, I only like beautiful summons!”

Even when royal families approached him for his talents, the shameless brat replied, “I’m not interested in governmental stuff, I’m only interested in beauties!”

Source: Shiroyukineko Translations

Why Read:

The story starts a bit confusing for me (I don’t really remember if he was transported or reincarnated to another world). Anyways, the story mainly tells on how the MC improves his summoning skill and how he upgrades his summoning book (it’s the medium for summoning tamed monsters instead of a cane) and his monsters (I remembered Pokemon a bit in this aspect).

The fighting scenes aren’t lacking and there are even scenes intended to be comical (which is really is funny). Though love interest is definitely depicted, the light novel does not really dwell on it too much (life over love in this case). It’s really a good novel for someone who loves taming-monsters genre, though it also is rich with combat scenes of several characters.

5. Sovereign of the Three Realms

Jiang Chen, son of the Heavenly Emperor, unexpectedly reincarnated into the body of a despised young noble, thus embarking on the path of the underdog trouncing all comers. No one has the right to call himself a genius in front of Jiang Chen, as no one has a better understanding of the heavens than the son of the Heavenly Emperor. Genius? He who adheres to me shall ascend, those who oppose me can find solace in hell!

Source: WuxiaWorld

Why Read:

Honestly, the story started really boring with setting the stage and a lot of internal monologue. However, there’s a scene that gave off a really over-powered feel (I guess it might be the confrontation of the duke and the king). Much more, as the story went on, you could really feel the OPness of the MC especially on the actions and fighting scenes. However, there are also several situations that I think are deemed to be boring (mostly full of conversations) and the protagonist out of character (such that his personality and behavior does not fit the situation he is in).

6. The Beginning After the End

Solitude is said to linger closely behind those with great power. Standing as a King with unrivaled strength, status, and fame… even more so. I, who once fought to live, lay drowned in my shallow throne with no will or purpose. There were many who were jealous of me, but I would gladly say, “Take it all from me! It’ll be my gift!” One day, I finally got my gift- a new life.

With a second chance to right my wrongs and fulfill my regrets, allow me to show you what a (former) king can do!

Source: Gravity Tales

Why Read:

The novel starts with the MC getting born from the new world after dying in the previous world (yes, it’s reincarnated) and retains his memories. Well, you could say that this is the typical light novel where MC starts training magic and his body since infant. The plot is laid out quite well, though there are plot twists you’ve never expected to happen. What makes the MC very OP, aside from his training and talent, is his inherited ability (you could say a “gift”) from an ancient dragon.

7. Chronicles of Primordial Wars

Shao Xuan joins a friend in his expedition to a recently discovered archaeological cave. After he picks up an ordinary looking stone he is teleported to a different world and wakes up in the body of a small orphan child. The world he is in now is still in it’s stone age with primitive tools made of stone and the ways of the people are savage.

Savage isn’t the only thing special about the people though, because they have superhuman strength, jump higher than trees and punch stones, in short they are able to cultivate their bodies. Despite all this it is a real struggle to survive because of the scarcity of the food. Together with Caesar his pet dog wolf he tries to survive in this cruel world.

Source: lesyt

Why Read:

This story is unique on its own as the story starts on an ancient setting (well it was obvious from the title alone). Again, as any other novels, the protagonist is transported back in time. Moreover, the MC’s OPness comes from him having his memories as well as another power that most of the people don’t own, and his high intelligence which gives him the guts to suspect motives of other characters and device a plan for improvement of himself and his safety.

As for the theme, it’s mostly fantasy though there are slight hints of technological advancement (MC “invents and revives” fishing, trap for hunting, domestication, etc.). The story is at the right paced and track, though there are a few parts that could be considered boring since internal monologue, conversations, and explanations are dominant (boring but completely significant). Finally, this novel is full packed with action scenes and currently no romance was instilled.

8. Botsuraku youtei nanode, Kajishokunin wo mezasu

The main character is reborn as a character from a game he played in his previous life. This character falls into ruin along with the villainess, spending the last of their years together. A man named Kururi Helan.

No details of this decline is written inside the game, it can’t be understood why this sub-character ended up with the villainess route. However, that is of no importance.

Living as a needy farmer along with someone is unpleasant, so the main character seeks a profession. For now, he aims for becoming a blacksmith as he originally had skill in it.

Source: Sloth Translations

Why Read:

The story is absolutely fast paced: skips time frame such that one paragraph states that he got a sword instructor then all of the sudden kaboom-none. Genre also includes the typical reincarnation as the memories of the main character were retrieved after falling from the tree and using the retrieved memories to improve himself and his standing.

Moreover, it’s also your ‘I’m-inside-of-a-game’ kind of theme with the main plot revolves over the MC trying his best to change his fate in a very bad ending. The portion of the novel which made me disinclined to reading are the characters conflicting behavior which absolutely does not fit into the current situation as well as the story's fast-paced progress which made most of the characters’ conversations turn unusual (especially the case of the MC and the second’s prince meeting wherein both are strangers but their conversation is like that of a childhood friend).

9. Bringing The Farm To Live In Another World

A series about a man who awakens in a strange land to find himself in the body of a complete waste of human life. He has to try to help rebuild a family that has fallen to only himself and his few retainers. As the first arc of the story it grows and becomes an epic journey of adapting to new land while crippled by a drug he was forced to ingest as he was banished to a wasteland by the old nobles of the capital after his family sided with the wrong heir to the throne in line for succession.

His only aid in this unfamiliar world is a strange ability that was present when he awoke in his new body. He’s got the ability to enter a world that is basically a farming simulation game, except all of the food is usable in the outside world. For someone stuck in a wasteland, only this cheat will help him survive and move forward in this unfamiliar world along with his few loyal retainers as he tries to rebuild a fallen family. Farming, selling crops, trying to find a way forward with a body that’s crippled.

Follow the journey of Zhao Hai as he lives his life in a magical world filled with intrigue, farming, business, more farming, and other exciting non farming things, followed by farming and cultivation.

Source: NovelsUpdate

Why Read:

Basically, this novel has the Farmville-in-the-fantasy-world theme. The MC has the game-like element wherein he owns a farm on a virtual space. On the other hand, the plot centers mostly on how the MC and his clan will survive after being banish to a dangerous wasteland as well as how can the MC retain back his ability (which was lost as a punishment). Though the action and fighting scenes aren’t that exciting, I look forward to, most of the times, is how the MC improves their living condition. Moreover, the story is mostly dominated by conversations dealing on business (yep, the MC is selling his harvests) to others while disguised as a “dark mage”.

10. Cook of the Mercenary Corp

I like cooking. But, when I was coming back from shopping I got lost and ended up being the cook of a mercenary unit. I don’t know why this happened but, in order to survive I will make delicious meals… This is the story of the heroic unit which became a legend in the future and the amazing cook who continued to support them.

Source: henkanepubs

Why Read:

This certainly is not the light novel where battle scenes quite exist. Rather than saying that this is a novel, the book is more like a collection of interconnected stories (with each story focus on different characters in relation to the MC) and battles are in the form of cooking Japanese dishes. Additionally, there is no clear plot of the story and the prologue is dry and lacking wherein MC is transported and directly undergoes cooking (some would say it’s all too sudden). The MC is certainly OP in cooking, but the story is not that great. Thus, most people would certainly drop reading in the first few chapters.

That ends the list for now. I hope the list had help in in ways more than one and enjoyed reading some of the items in it (though it's quite short than my previous lists). Anyways, see you for the next installment